Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-10-13

! TO man in low tones, and the whole
Mne of skirmishers quietly turned and
marched up through the corn to the
top of the ridge. As they came to the
open ground at the summit all was still
about and in front of them. Their
comrades were out of hearing in their
retreat. The Captain mounted his
horse-which an orderly had been
holding while the Captain was on foot
with his skirmishers-and put his lit
tie regiment in motion to follow the
army. He himself remained until the
last of his men had filed by. and then
followed. AS he did this. he turned
his face as if for last look at the
bloody field. There was nothing there
now but darkness and silence. Perfect
silence, it seemed. thinking of what
| hal been there now less than two
hours before. 1t was perfect silence.
save that two hundred yards down the
ridge to the front, where the enemy's
dead and wounded lay thfckest, a
sharp cry came up out of the night
now and then. as the hospital corps
lifted sufferer too roughly or turned
some poor fellow over upon a mangled
limb. Save, also, that a rustling noise
in the corn through which he had just
come told the Captain that the enemy's
skirmishers left at the fence below
were already moving on his track.
1.-The last man at Chickamauga!'
muttered the captain as he rode on aft
er his regiment.
They passed quickly down the rear
ward slope into the deeper shadow of
the valley. and presently turning their
heads to look behind saw family out
lined against the sky the figures of the
Southern skirmishers as one after an
other they emerged from the corn and
stood upon the crest.
The last of Chickamauga! All, no!
Not the last; for as the little rear
guard reached the lower ground they
came upon their wounded comrades,
who, too badly hurt to go on to the
rear, had yet with untold agony
dragged themselves back from the fire.
swept ground in front, and so got par
tial shelter. Along the route these
wretched sufferers lay thickly. Here
one with an arm half torn off; there a
foot dangling; here poor fellow shot
through the body, his death question
not of hours, but of minutes; and so
on, in sickening continuance. And all
wanting water! There had been none
all day, and the retreating soldiers
were marching with lips and tongues
blackened and swollen and cracked
with thirst until many could utter no
articulate sound.
"Boys, you won't go and leave us
here?"
'.For Gods sake, water! water!''
''Boys, are you going on the retreat
and leave us behind?'
"You ought to hold the ground,
boys. till they take care of us!''
water! water! Don't let us die
here?''
Pitiful, pitifui appeals! And all in
vain. Not a canteen of water in the
whole command. Not an ambulance
within miles. Nothing but victori-
Gus foe behind, an unknown way in
front, and the blackness of night over
all! Pitiful, pitiful! Harder to face
these reproaches-than all of Bragg's
artillery. All! hers is punishment.
Not only to leave the field to the enc
my, but to abandon torn and bleeding
brothers, also!
So thought the Captain, riding in
rear of his little worn command. Pres
entity he heaid well-known voice at
the roadside, and pulled up his horse
Good heavens. Major! You here,
and hurt!'' cried the Captain, as he
came close 10 Il PROSTATE figure at the
roadside.
Eyes. Ntilney. I'm here. For Gods
sake get me drink of waterr' replied
the sufferer. And then wcnton eager
ly: lis it a retreat, Captain? Have we
lost it all? Where are the ambulances
and the hospital trains? Are all these
poor fellows to be left to the enemy?
Why. :hey can't take care of their own
in this wilderness, let alone ours! 1t
is crlel-itis horrible! Get me drink.
Captain; get me drink! That is all l
shall ever want. shall not get away
from here"
Captain Milney dismounted. He had
a few precious drops of water in his
canteen-hoarded for hours against his
own thirst. His friend. Major Cation,
he found was shot in the breast-how
badly could not be told. He was
quickly relieved so far as half a dozen
swallows of the life-giving water could
do it.
God bless you, Milneyr' he cried.
you've done me the last service |
shall receive in life. God bless you,
my friend! And now go on. You
can't help these poor fellows here. l |
know; you can't help me any further.
Go on with your regiment and leave
us. But here, Milney. take this letter,
and when you go back in Gods Ohio |
give it to Nina Clark. and tell
her that her promise made man of |
ME when / was nj OH deSnprat;on and